The Atheists requested an odd wish that their punishment be hastened instead of asking that they be given Allah’s guidance and praying for His grace and forgiveness. The Atheists have switched off all the abilities and talents Allah has given to them.
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The Surah No.13 of the Quran discusses the basic issue of faith, namely the revelation of Allah’s book, the Quran, and the truth it contains. This frames the foundation over which all the other issues of faith are built, including those of the oneness of Allah, belief in the hereafter, and the need to do good acts in this life.
All these comes out from the central point of believing that the One who commands us is Allah, and that the Quran is His revelation to the last Prophet Muhammad
The Surah starts with such panoramic scenes from the vast universe, but then speaks of people who remain uninspired by all these signs around them, visible in every aspect of creation. Their hearts and minds remain oblivious to the fact that behind all these marvels lies the great power of the Almighty Creator.
This is because their minds are in chains and their hearts bound.
They cannot contemplate the vast universal scenes around them.
The verses 13:5-6 say:
“But if you are amazed, amazing, too, is their saying:‘What! After we have become dust, shall we be raised [to life] in a new act of creation?’
Who say that? The Atheists who deny their Lord.
They are the ones who:
- Carry their own manacles around their necks
- Are ordained for the eternal fire wherein they will abide.
It is quite amazing that after all of Allah’ signs people should wonder:
‘What! After we have become dust, shall we be raised to life in a new act of creation?’
Allah has created the great universe and manages its affairs in meticulous fashion,
Is not He certainly able to resurrect human beings in a new act of creation.
And if you are wondering, because of their statement, then that [statement of theirs] itself is the cause for wonder, since man becomes a new creation in every minute, indeed, the world [itself] becomes a new creation at every moment by the changing of configurations, states, conditions and forms. How can one who has contemplated the world of engenderment and corruption with a heedful eye deny the [reality of] new creation? Those are the ones who, have been veiled from the essential vision of the acts and the self-disclosures of [His] Lordliness, and how much more so [are they veiled] from the self-disclosures of the divine attributes?
However, the Atheists refuse to believe this, lacking faith in their Lord who created them.
You will see their punishment will completed when the Angels throw them in the fire of hell where they will abide forever.
The Atheists have switched off all the abilities and talents Allah has given to man and has honored man on their account.
They have also accepted a low position in this life.
This earns them an even lower life in the hereafter, simply because they have lived their first life making no use of their abilities, talents, feelings and emotions.
Sinful Wrongdoers and odd wish
The Atheists wonder that Allah will bring them back to life after their death, yet it is their being amazed that is indeed amazing.
The Atheists at the time of the Prophet Muhammad ask that their punishment be hastened instead of asking that they be given Allah’s guidance and praying for His grace: “They ask you to hasten evil rather than good.”
Just as they do not look at the universe around them and do not contemplate its multitude of signs, they do not look at the fate of those communities before them.
Those communities adopted the same attitude, precipitating Allah’s punishment, and it came fast upon them, making of them a lesson to any future community:
“They ask you to hasten evil rather than good, although exemplary punishments have indeed come to pass before their time.”
Read the History of all messengers from Noah to Muhammad to know the outcome of the Atheists.
However, the Atheists are unaware even of the fate of the ancient generations that carry an effective lesson for those who wish to learn.
Look how the Quran answered them:
“Your Lord always extends forgiveness to people despite their wrongdoing.”
He bestows His mercy on them even if they commit injustice and wrongdoing, allowing them time to reevaluate and reconsider their position.
Allah allows them a chance to repent so that He will forgive them.
However, those Atheists who persist with their evil and wrongdoing, and remain unwilling to enter through the gate of Allah’s forgiveness, will find that Allah’s punishment is severe indeed.
“Your Lord is certainly severe in retribution.”
It should be emphasized that the verse puts Allah’s forgiveness ahead of His punishment to contrast it with those who pray for punishment rather than Allah’s guidance.
This demonstrates the great distance between the goodness that Allah wants for them and the evil they seek for themselves.
The verse illustrates how misguided, blind and abject the Atheists are.
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The verses 13:5-6 in different translations:
QARIB:
5-If you would wonder, then wondrous is their saying: ‘when we are dust, shall we be raised to life again, a new creation? ‘Such are those who disbelieve in their Lord. their necks shall be fettered. They shall be the inhabitants of the fire, in it they shall live forever.
6-They bid you to hasten the evil before the good, yet examples have passed away before them. Your Lord is forgiving to people despite their evildoing; yet your Lord is stern in retribution.
SHAKIR:
5-And if you would wonder, then wondrous is their saying: what! When we are dust, shall we then certainly be in a new creation? These are they, who disbelieve in their Lord, and these have chains on their necks, and they are the inmates of the fire; in it they shall abide
6-And they ask you to hasten on the evil before the good, and indeed there have been exemplary punishments before them; and most surely your Lord is the Lord of forgiveness to people, notwithstanding their injustice; and most surely your Lord is severe in requiting (evil)
PICKTHAL:
5-And if thou wonderest, then wondrous is their saying: when we are dust, are we then forsooth (to be raised) in a new creation? Such are they who disbelieve in their Lord; such have carcans on their necks; such are rightful owners of the fire, they will abide therein.
6-And they bid thee hasten on the evil rather than the good, when exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But lo! Thy Lord is rich in pardon for mankind despite their wrong, and lo! Thy Lord is strong in punishment.
YUSUFALI:
5-If thou dost marvel (at their want of faith), strange is their saying: “when we are (actually) dust, shall we indeed then be in a creation renewed?” they are those who deny their Lord! They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude): they will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for aye)!
6-They ask thee to hasten on the evil in preference to the good: yet have come to pass, before them, (many) exemplary punishments! But verily thy Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind for their wrong-doing, and verily thy Lord is (also) strict in punishment.